Manchester, Oct 27 (IANS) Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany has asserted that he stands by his decision to play for Belgium during the recent international break against the wishes of manager Manuel Pellegrini, indicating that he will continue to represent his country in the future.

Kompany had played for Belgium in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel on October 13 despite Pellegrini’s insistence that he had not fully recovered from a calf injury. The incident prompted Pellegrini to drop Kompany for the next couple of matches before the defender returned to the starting XI for City’s English Premier League (EPL) clash against arch-rivals Manchester United.

“They are two very important teams that have different goals and ambitions and it’s just normal that stuff like this happens. I would not have played if I was not fit. But I’m a professional and I don’t need too much explanation (from the manager).

“I just deal with it. I dealt with my decision and I didn’t have a problem with it. It’s fine. I work hard, always. I’m always positive for the team. It’s not at (the age of) 29 that I need too much explanation any more,” Kompany was quoted as saying by the Guardian on Monday.

Kompany, who has been at City since 2008, said he did not expect to have to fight to reclaim his place despite angering his manager by puuting his country over his club. With Argentina centre-back Nicolas Otamendi joining City last August, Pellegrini now has more options in defence, but Kompany asserted that he is used to facing competition for places.

“Every single time I’ve had the chance to put my boots on this term I’ve done very well, with my national team and club. I’m a team player. We all want to achieve the same thing in the end. If other players do well I’m, by definition, also satisfied.

“It’s always been the case at City (to face competition). There’s been as many defenders for that position since I’ve been there. It’s not just one season when there’s been big signings and big players come in. It’s necessary,” he said. “Sometimes you get the best out of a team with that competition but that’s true for every position, not just my position.”